Reform boycotts Welsh Parliament after member banned for claiming 'British white people are being replaced'

Reform has announced it is boycotting proceedings in the Welsh Parliament after one of its members was banned from speaking over comments claiming white British people were being replaced in the UK.

Helen Jenner, leader of the party in Wales, announced on Wednesday that the group would not attend plenary – the full meeting of Members of the Senedd (MSs) – in a “show of support” for Joe Martin.

Mr Martin, Reform MS for Caerdydd Penarth, was handed the ban on Tuesday after his comments were described as “discriminatory” and “offensive” by the Llywydd (presiding officer), Huw Irranca-Davies.

Reform is the largest opposition group to the Plaid Cymru-led government.

Speaking on the steps of the Senedd, Ms Jenner said the ban was an “infringement on freedom of speech”.

She added: “Quite frankly, nothing would have happened to Joe had he said these things out on the street, so why should he be silenced in the parliament here in Wales?

“As such, we have decided to make a stand, and our stand is this – if you silence one of us, you silence us all.

“We will not be attending plenary today, and that is our stance on it.

“We honestly feel that we are here to speak for our constituents, to speak for the people who voted for us, and we are being silenced and when we’re being silenced, those views of our constituents and our electors are being silenced as well.”

She appeared alongside Mr Martin, who said: “I’d like to thank the party for all the support that they’ve given me.

“I think that the way that they’ve rallied around me after I’ve been limited in what I can say in this attack on free speech, I think has been exemplary.

“I have lots of praise for how we’ve responded and Helen’s leadership, so I just want to say thank you.”

Ms Jenner added that while party members would not attend proceedings in the Siambr (Senedd debating chamber) on Wednesday, they would still be present to vote.

The ban followed comments made by Mr Martin, the MS for Caerdydd Penarth, in the Senedd on Tuesday.

He said in the Senedd on Tuesday: “Can I have a statement from your government on the demographic replacement of white British people taking place in the UK?

“Because the scale of change has been breathtaking.

“Mass immigration and differing birth rates mean that, in just 37 years’ time, in 2063, we will be a minority in our own country.

“That change has already taken place in London, Birmingham, Leicester, Slough, Luton and Manchester, and I don’t want it to happen here.

“Indeed, at every opportunity, the majority of the electorate have wanted less immigration so that their nation can be preserved.

“A nation is not an economic zone, it’s not a hotel, and neither is it a charity.

“It’s a family, which is capable of absorbing people of all races if done at a sensible rate, but not if it’s replaced altogether.”

Welsh minister Heledd Fychan responded by asking for a ruling on whether the comments were in line with Senedd rules, adding: “We have a duty for every single member of our communities that we represent.

“I reject division and hate. We had a question earlier to the Prif Weinidog (First Minister) around antisemitism.

“We cannot differentiate between people of different religions, different sexuality, different skin colour.

“We are a government for everyone here in Wales, we are supposed to be a Senedd for everyone here in Wales.

“I reject wholeheartedly the division that is spouted by those members.”

Later in the afternoon, Mr Irranca-Davies said he considered the comments made by Mr Martin to be “unnecessarily provocative and deliberately offensive”.

He said: “Whilst it is always possible to raise legitimate policy matters in relation to immigration in this Siambr, the focus of that contribution on race and ethnicity was clearly discriminatory, offensive, and detracted from the dignity of the Senedd.

“This is not the first time the member has pushed the boundaries in his contributions, and I have previously warned him about his conduct.

“Until I receive a clear indication that the member understands the boundaries of acceptable parliamentary conduct and apologises to the Siambr, we will not be calling the member to speak.”

In a post on X on Wednesday, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: “It is ridiculous and outrageous that Reform’s duly elected Member of the Senedd, Joe Martin, has been banned from speaking in the Welsh Parliament.